FAI Cup Report: Cobh Ramblers 2 - 1 Cherry Orchard

Check out Extratime.ie photographer Steve Alfred / Pitchsidephoto.com images from the game

Eoin McGreevy’s 49^th minute goal from close range ensured Cobh Ramblers progressed to the third round of the FAI Senior Cup defeating Leinster Senior League Division 1 side, Cherry Orchard at a sunny St. Colman’s Park.

The home side hit the front after a hundred seconds when Shane O’Connor headed in McGreevy’s back post cross. The equaliser arrived on 40 minutes when Ryan Coombes floated a shot over Paul Hunt.

The winner arrived on 49 minutes through McGreevy as Cobh held out against the Cherry Orchard attacks to emerge triumphant.

Ramblers went with a strong side as they were wary of another Cup upset similar to last year where they lost 3-0 to Killester United, the same team who Cherry Orchard defeated in the previous round. Cherry Orchard only needs a point next Saturday against Arklow Town to gain promotion.

Stephen Henderson's side only needed a 100 seconds to get the opening goal when man of the match McGreevy saw his cross from the left flank to the back post be headed in by O’Connor.

The game went into a lull with Ramblers having all the possession but they weren’t doing much to threaten the opposition.

The lead should have been doubled on 24 minutes when Cian Kingston played a lovely through ball to O’Connor but the former Ipswich Town player couldn’t direct his shot on goal with it going inches wide.

Jonathan Creamer saw his shot blocked by Dean Murphy for a corner as Cherry Orchard looked to be on a damage limitation exercise.

Yet against the run of play, Jack Memery’s excellent cross found Coombes and the former Athlone Town player lobbed it over Hunt into the net.

The second half saw Charlie Flemings cross find Creamer but the striker got the ball stuck in his feet when trying to recover the situation and managed to pass the ball out to McGreevy who slotted home at the back post.

Cherry Orchard threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the opposition in the second half looking to get an equaliser but the long balls were mopped up by Paul Hunt and Ramblers now look forward to the next round with many of the locals hoping to get their premier division neighbours in the Cup at home.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Dave Curran (Stephen Christopher 67), Ben O’Riordan, Christopher McCarthy, Ian Mylod;Charlie Fleming, Jason Abbott, Cian Kingston, Shane O’Connor (Marcus Gustavsson 94), Eoin McGreevy; Jonathan Creamer (Cory Galvin 73).

Subs: Evan Galvin, David Browne

Yellow Cards: Cramer (18), Fleming (44), Galvin (78), McCarthy (93)

Red Cards: None

Cherry Orchard: Claudio Valean; Marc Notaro (Aaron Sheehan 46), Dean Murphy, Jack Memery; Gioanni Boccarosa, Bobby Cullen (Thomas O’Rourke 75), Darren Stapleton; Sean Dixon, Adrian Rafferty (Jack O’Connor 84); Ryan Coombes, Ciaran Byrne.

Subs: Paddy McNevin, Michael Isechei, Darren Kelly, Mark Harrington

Yellow Cards: O’Rourke (80)

Red Cards: None

Referee: David Keeler (Cork)

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Eoin McGreevy (Cobh Ramblers)

Attendance: 250 (estimate)